Infosec 2009: Absolute Software offers laptop recovery system

LoJack is a Bios-level laptop security system

Computer protection and recovery firm Absolute Software has announced the availability of its Computrace LoJack for Laptops system in Europe from next month.

LoJack is a Bios-level laptop security system designed to help protect, track, locate and recover lost or stolen laptops and desktop computers.

The software is embedded in the firmware of the device, and regularly calls home to the Absolute Monitoring Centre with location information. When a LoJack-enabled computer is reported stolen, the Computrace Agent sends a silent signal over the internet to the monitoring facility.

The Absolute Theft Recovery team then uses key captures, registry scanning, file scanning and geo-location, among other forensic techniques, to determine the location of the device and gather evidence, and then works with local authorities to recover the computer.

Data can also be remotely deleted in order to ensure that sensitive information does not fall into the wrong hands. Remotely deleted data is wiped seven times to help ensure that it is not recoverable.

"Computer security is not just a business issue, it's something every individual with any type of computer needs to consider," said John Livingston, chairman and chief executive at Absolute Software.

"Replacing computers if stolen can be expensive, especially when you include the value of the music, information and photos that are on them. In the current climate, theft is becoming more common, and the increasingly mobile world provides plenty of opportunity."

Livingstone cited research by the Ponemon Institute showing that 900 laptops go missing from Heathrow Airport alone each week, highlighting the importance of being able to remotely delete data and/or recover the device.

Absolute claims that it currently recovers around three-quarters of all LoJack-enabled laptops reported lost or stolen, equating to approximately 85 per week. Because it is installed at a Bios level, the Computrace platform can survive operating system reinstallations, hard-drive reformats, replacements and re-imaging.

LoJack for Laptops is supported by the majority of computer manufacturers, and will be available in Europe in May. A one-year licence costs £45.95.

Absolute also recently unveiled Computrace for Netbooks and Computrace Mobile, which currently supports BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices.